Verb Tense Shifting

Question

Does verb tense shifting mean that when you're writing in the present tense, you can't use "had" or "was"?

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

No. It means that when you are reporting an event the verb will regress:

John says he is moving to Chicago in 2012.

John said he was moving to Chicago in 2012.

CalifJim · Answer

ScullyDoes verb tense shifting mean that when you're writing in the present tense, you can't use "had" or "was"?

No. It typically refers to changing present point of view to past point of view, though theoretically changes from past to present would also be shifts.

Examples:

This shifts to this.

is was

are were

does did

has had

will would

know knew

think thought

want wanted

And so on.

I think I can do that. > I thought I could do that.

I wonder if he will read this. > I wondered if he would read this.

Paul wants to sell the car he has bought. > Paul wanted to sell the car he had bought.

CJ

Scully · Answer

so...if you're writing a paper or letter, and you consistently shift between present and past tense, then that's verb tense shifting, which is wrong?

CalifJim · Answer

Scullyif you're writing a paper or letter, and you consistently shift between present and past tense, then that's verb tense shifting, which is wrong?

It's only wrong if you do it when there is no reason to do it.

Sometimes you have to present facts in your paper that have to do with contrasts between how something is now with how it was before. In that case, you'll have to change the point of view of the tenses. But if you just do it all over the place without any good reason, then it's going to create a poor presentation.

CJ

Verb Tense Shifting

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions